Mr. Arafat is under Israeli and international pressure to reform the Palestinian security services.

The move came as envoys from the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations met in London to discuss U.S. proposals for Palestinian reforms and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. U.S. officials say the diplomats discussed creating a steering committee to coordinate Palestinian reform efforts.

President Bush says the Palestinians need new leadership, but several of America's European allies have disagreed with Mr. Bush's implicit call for the ouster of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.